The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-06-09
COMMENCEMENT DAYS,
A Symposium Of Opinion on the
Propriety Of the Public Parade.

for this special public display, becomes
year by year more obnoxious to the right
thinking, both among students and teach
srs. Strange to say, It is the parents
who cling to the time-honored custom
which has sort Of sacramental charac
ter to many of them, and sets the sea
upon the years of study, even thougl
the pupil docs nothing but dress in whit,
and act as spectator of the showier pu
pills performances.
The dress question, too, complicate
the matter, as 1t does every one in which
women are interested. 1t was simpl,
enough years ago when the white frocl
was of cotton, with q few tucks, wa,
made at home and served for Sunday
wear afterward. But this sort of dress
ing is out of date. One member of 9
graduating class, with whom money is nc
object, sets the fashion for the rest, and
there are heart-burnings extending ovel
months, and efforts to which much rea
good is sacrificed, and which only resul,
in modification.
For school life itself has become q
very different thing from what it was
formerly, more of q strain and extend
ing over longer period, and with seri
GUS work at the end of it. into which the
thought Of white muslin frocks and
idyllfc leisure does not enter. 1t il
pretty we'll understood now that the col.
lege is not q fashionable school and that
1t is the door to professional life.
Fashionable mothers do not want thei,
daughters to receive that kind of educa-
tion, or come in contact with the strug-
Cling and aspiring young women,
who, by dint of personal effort, or the
sacrifices Of hardworking parents, are
acquiring the instrumentalities by which
to carve out future career. Every day,
every hour, every dollar to these girls is
important. What they have done-what
has been done for them-may just fall
short of extremity; they do not want to
be pushed to that extremity which may
have disastrous consequences.
The more earnest the girl the more
serious the problem, so that it is now a
matter of anxious discussion in many
schools. while few have quietly solved
itfor themselves by dropping the essay
and valedictory business, and making
commencement" q social day for the
students and their friends-the talking,
whatever there is, coming in the more
sensible shape Of good counsel to the
pupils, instead Of high-fown platitudes
from the latter to their teachers and
relatives.
All, however, have not found salts.
factory solution to the vexed question
OF what car be done to satisfy those pa
rents and pupils who consider the pub.
lie parade as part of their moneys worth.
"What IAN be suggested Is q substi-
tute" wrote not long since . lady prin-
cipal Of successful Southern seminary.
THE usual commencement occupies
valuable time; leads to vulgar desire
for individual distinction and display;
forces unjust discrimination, and it's re-
suits are often hurtful ana misleading.
Can you suggest any Improvement on
the old plani"
10 obtain an answer to this question
letters were written which elected the
following expressions of opinion from
various responsible and authoritative
sources.
Aprofessor of the University at Ann
Arbor, Mich, writes:
Conceding that ''commencements" are the
universal and approved form Of closing the
scholastic year, the question arises e to
how these high days or anniversaries can be
made OF most value and interest to the par
icipants.
The rapid advance in educational methods
aas not left untouched the old-time COM
nencement Anniversaries. The new ideas
No supplantng the old in regard to its cele-
bration, and are attracting much attention
IN the educational world.
There are three recognised modes OF OBJ
'erving commenoements: ~ All the MEM
bars Of the grsduating class may deliver
'peeches or rsad essays. (0 The faculty
may choose commencement orators from
he class, on the basis Of superior scholar
hip. 90 The president or faculty may In
'ite . distinguished man Tor womsn) to
make the commencement addren.
The hrst plan y simpsacticabls whore the
ala0 numbers more than ten or
wslvs msmbsEs; 1t Il also undesirable, b.
'suss students totally unfit for public speak
ne ase Obliged 10 undertake Il, 70 thar own
isoomhtuss and TIE moEtiAcaaion of thsir
fisnds.
The second plan svoids this dimculty, but
introduces invidious disdnctionA and Seldom
y never fails Of creating jsaloudas, envy
nes and bitterness. Th0s plans ass both
IKE opm to the objsotioo that ths spsschss
md snuays Of mambaS a ths paduaHng
''as are In the mature of thines rassly q
MY vaiue o. intssst % IN nudiencs, the
psssonAl friends of IL Peakss sxesp1sd.
The third plan, thst a inviting an eni-
NJ uaa 70 deliver ~ epnmanoanant a.
lSen eoennen1s ilsalfi aunsBeU viyu - |
'seiea- j , eDn - - ~ ~
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